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Home / The Country

World champs! Egg-cellent result for New Zealand's Yolk Ferns

Kiri Gillespie
By Kiri Gillespie
Assistant News Director and Multimedia Journalist·Bay of Plenty Times·
1 Jul, 2019 06:18 PM2 mins to read

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Lachie Davidson (left) and Ben McColgan are officially world champions at egg throwing. Photo / supplied

Lachie Davidson (left) and Ben McColgan are officially world champions at egg throwing. Photo / supplied

New Zealand's Yolk Ferns have been crowned world champions at egg throwing.

Ben McColgan, 21, of Tauranga and Lachie Davidson, 21, of Ashburton took the title in the 2019 World Egg Throwing Championships in London overnight.

Both are students at Massey University in Palmerston North.

McColgan said he and Davidson had to throw the egg to each other without it breaking - and reached 60 metres to take the title.

McColgan, as a small and agile cricketer, was the catcher for the team while Davidson, with long and lanky arms, was the thrower.

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Our New Zealand Rural Games​ national egg-throwing champions and Massey University​ students Lachie Davidson and Ben McColgan, are off on Sunday to The World Egg Throwing Federation champs in Swaton on June 30th. Sponsored by WillimentNZ​, these lads will get the best mid-year break representing NZ and seeing the sights of England. Good luck Lachie and Ben!🥚🤾‍♂️🏆

Posted by Massey Sport and Rugby Institute on Wednesday, 19 June 2019

The sport involved minimal equipment, with Davidson saying their training schedule involved heading down to a local park three times a week with a tray of eggs in hand.

The journey to becoming world champions in egg-throwing began when the two headed to the New Zealand Rural Games in Palmerston North in March. But what started out as a look around, turned into a last-minute entry in the annual Egg Throw and Catch competition.

McColgan and Davidson placed in the first competition and automatically qualified for the nationals. The duo scrambled for a spot on the podium and managed to finish second in the national competition, both leaving with travel vouchers.

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It wasn't until a month later, when the competition winners pulled out of the international competition, that McColgan and Davidson were asked to fill their spot and represent New Zealand.

McColgan had said previously it was "just unbelievable" and definitely "the highlight of their international sporting careers".

He said the pair were keen to give the world championships "a good crack".

The men's families created uniforms and jerseys specifically for the event. Their team name? The NZ Yolk Ferns.

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